This looks like a great opportunity to begin to get their season back on track as their opponents have lost a league-high six games, and all the best free bets and bookie promos are pointing to a home win. Since winning 1-0 at newly-promoted Bournemouth on the opening day of the season, Aston Villa have taken only one point and that came at home to Sunderland. Tim Sherwood's side have been beaten by the likes of Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Stoke City since. All six of their defeats have been by a single goal.

Chelsea's title hopes have already been ruled out by many after their struggle of a start and anything less than three points this weekend would see many more journalists and pundits write them off. As things stand, it would be smarter to bet on Chelsea making the top-four instead of Chelsea winning the title, or you can perhaps put a free betting bonus like William Hill's sign up offer to good use by predicting a managerial change at Villa if Sherwood can't turn the team around by the New Year.

The Blues did the double over Aston Villa last season but Paul Lambert was in charge of the West Midlands club for both matches. They have not kept a clean sheet in their last seven league matches, which includes shipping three goals at Liverpool and two at home to Sunderland.

Mourinho's side remain strong favourites to pick up three points again this weekend despite winning only two of their first eight matches this season, one of which was versus 10 man Arsenal. Aston Villa are quickly becoming relegation favourites and start the weekend in the bottom three.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa Team News

Chelsea team news

Good news for Chelsea is that Branislav IvanoviÄ‡ picked up an injury during the international break and is expected to be unavailable this weekend. The Serbian right-back who has taken the captain's armband in games in which John Terry has been benched, has been woeful this season.

A former engineer who died a day after his diamond wedding anniversary has been called the "best dad ever" by his family.Brian Cunningham, of Lynton Gardens in Arnold, was said to have been well-known in his community after playing semi-professional football following a stint in Nottingham Forest's youth team.The 80-year-old died following a battle with lung cancer on Friday, June 26 – a day after marking a 60-year marriage to his wife Kath.Mrs Cunningham, also 80, said: "He...

Dougie Freedman has reshuffled his backroom staff at Nottingham Forest.Two men who provided significant support to the Reds boss following his appointment last season have been made permanent additions to the first team coaching staff.Jimmy Gilligan and Steve Sutton, who worked in the Reds' academy before stepping up to assist Freedman with first-team duties following the departure of Stuart Pearce and his staff, will again work with the senior players next season.Gilligan, who had done well as...